Lualaba Mining Cooperatives Vote in Kolwezi to Strengthen Governance of Artisanal Mining Sector
Kolwezi: Mining Cooperatives Elect Representatives to New Artisanal Mining Governance Bodies
Mining cooperatives in Lualaba province are heading to the polls this Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Kolwezi to elect their representatives to two newly established bodies under the Ministry of Mines.
The announcement was made by the Service for Assistance and Support of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (SAEMAPE).
In an official statement, SAEMAPE/Lualaba Provincial Director Georges Nyembo Kitungwa invited all cooperatives to participate in the vote, which is aimed at strengthening their role in the governance of the artisanal mining sector.
The elected representatives will serve in two key structures: the Commission responsible for preparing the draft allocation of mining cooperatives within Artisanal Mining Zones (ZEAs), and the Monitoring Committee overseeing the “Group Protection” insurance scheme for artisanal miners organized in cooperatives.
These bodies were created through Ministerial Orders No. 00235 of April 3, 2026, and No. 00279 of May 5, 2026, as part of broader efforts to professionalize and better structure artisanal mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The electoral process will take place at the multipurpose hall of the Lualaba Provincial Government building, in the presence of national and provincial authorities.
Expected participants include SAEMAPE Director General Jean-Paul Kapongo Kadiobo, representatives of the Minister of Mines, Governor Fifi Masuka Saini, members of the provincial government, security services, and cooperative leaders.
The program includes candidate presentations, voting, ballot counting, and the official proclamation of results.
Through this initiative, the Ministry of Mines aims to improve governance, social protection, and organization within the artisanal mining sector, while promoting greater inclusion of cooperatives in the management of mining zones.
The reform is part of a broader strategy to formalize artisanal mining and enhance its contribution to local economic development in the DRC.
